Current jobs related to Pr Officer - Derby - University of Derby

**Job details**:
Department

Marketing and Communications

Responsible to

PR Manager

Location

Kedleston Road, Derby Campus

Salary

£30,950 to £34,027 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £39,131 per annum)

Closing date

Sunday 14 April 2024

Contract type

Permanent

Post type

Full-time

Adaptive working type

Onsite
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.

Reference

0081-24

**About the role**:
We are looking for a proactive, creative and media savvy PR Officer to join our award-winning External Relations department.

As part of this exciting and varied role, you will work closely with colleagues in the External Relations department and across the wider university to deliver a proactive PR strategy aligned to the University’s strategic objectives.

You will work as part of the PR & Social Media team, with a remit to proactively identify opportunities to raise the profile, reputation, and influence of the University regionally, nationally and internationally, by promoting its achievements and successes, academic excellence, research impact, and the work of our students and staff.

As well as excellent communication skills, you will bring to this role experience of delivering impactful PR and communications activity, a talent for writing compelling and engaging copy for diverse audiences, digital skills, and the confidence and ability to provide strategic communications advice and guidance to senior internal stakeholders.

You will be comfortable forming relationships with journalists spanning regional, national, international and sector press, have a sound understanding of the broader media agenda, and a good nose for a story with the ability to identify the strongest news angle to secure coverage.

You will be able to work well independently, and as part of the team, with an appetite to take on new challenges and drive forward the collective impact of the External Relations department.

While you may be called on to support the wider team across all areas of our remit when needed, the focus of your role will primarily be on PR and media relations to support our work to raise the profile and reputation of the University of Derby.

**Principal accountabilities**:

- Work with the Head of PR and Social Media and the wider team to develop and deliver a proactive and impactful PR strategy that raises the profile, reputation and influence of the University of Derby on a national and international scale. Positioning the University as a first choice institution and supporting the wider student recruitment aims.
- Take a proactive approach to work, monitoring the news agenda and sector/political environment to take full advantage of opportunities to get the University of Derby in the media.
- Work with the team to proactively plan, manage and deliver PR campaigns and media relations activity that collectively raise the profile of our research and academic expertise and supports the University’s strategic ambitions.
- Contribute to the ongoing development and management of social media channels and strategy, helping to drive engagement with the University and increase its external influence.
- Support the management of a busy press office function, responding quickly to media enquiries and building up your knowledge of the expertise within the University to match up the appropriate academic with the opportunity.
- Support with content development and contribute to key publications as required.
- Support the development of the team’s existing evaluation and reporting system, to drive forward engagement and further develop the strategy, suggesting improvements based upon data and market insights.
- Continually improve what we do by gathering and sharing best practice. Encourage the adoption of new, innovative approaches, make effective use of technology and social media and maintain awareness of best and emerging practice in the sector, particularly related to student experience, PR and communications.
- Take part in an on-call rota to manage communications in the event of critical incidents/media enquiries which occur out-of-hours.
- Play an active role in the External Relations department and support colleagues to provide an excellent prospective student experience, by assisting with key activities such as Open Days and graduation.

**Person specification**:
**Essential Criteria**:
**Qualifications**:

- Relevant degree or equivalent qualification, and/or equivalent professional experience

**Experience**:

- Demonstrable experience of working in a PR or communications role, ideally within a PR agency
- Demonstrable experience of working with the media, pitching stories and identifying opportunities to secure coverage on behalf of clients or an organisation
- Experience of proactively planning, managing and delivering PR campaigns and media relations activity for an organisation/client
- Experience of working with senior colleag